“Rai—” Tynan grips his head, his eyes wide.
Cocking my head, I focus on him for a few more seconds, letting him simmer in whatever invisible nightmare I’ve conjured up for him. I’m curious to know what his fears are, but I suppose it doesn’t matter. It never really matters what they are, just that they exist.
I clear my throat, rolling up my sleeves, before dropping the mental connection between us and releasing him from my power.
“You’re a prick, you know?” Tynan tries to laugh off the moment, but it’s forced.
Good.
I’ve unsettled him.
Having Tynan here, it reminds me of how much I hate this room and why. It belonged to Seamus Iorworth, the faerie who I thought was my blood. The male who should’ve been my father—who everyone thinks was my father.
He was also the man who smacked my mother around so badly before I was born, that she sought secret solace in another man’s arms. And after I was born, Seamus smacked us both around.
Anyone who hits a defenseless child is disturbed.
And having Tynan here reminds me that most of my life, as perceived from the outside, is a lie. We share a father, who in many ways, is worse than Seamus could ever be.
My heart breaks all over again for my mother, for her poor choice in males, and the way they used and abused us both.
Perching on the edge of the desk, I gesture for Tynan to grab a seat on the red-velvet sofa. He obliges.
“Speak,” I say.
“The spirits are unsettled.”
I cross my arms, unamused. “Clearly.”
“They’ve been unsettled for a few weeks—”
“And you’ve waited this long to inform me?”
He rubs the back of his neck and grins. “I had it under control.”
“Wrong answer.”
“Instead of crossing over, or resting in Shyga as they should, there are a few shadow-spirits trying to escape.”
“They shouldn’t be able to escape,” I mutter.
“No shite, brother,” he says sarcastically. He leans back, resting his ankle on his opposite knee.
The arrogance sickens me.
“I’ve been able to round them up and draw them back to the bog, and they don’t appear to be causing any damage.”
“For now.” I shake my head. “Considering they shouldn’t be free-roaming in the first place, we shouldn’t allow ourselves to get complacent when it comes to their capabilities.”
“They’re just spirits, brother, relax.”
“I say this with zero respect, brother, feck yourself.”
He barks a laugh. “Your knickers must be on too tight again.”
Running a hand through my hair, I close my eyes and will my patience to stay with me a little longer.
“If ruling is getting to be too much for you, I’ll be glad to switch posts. You can look after the spirits yourself.”